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Old August 8th 15, 08:40 PM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
Andy Blackburn[_3_]
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Default Playing around with the pitch phugoid

I find this an odd discussion since this is in reference to a dynamic mode that is related to the interaction between speed and pitching moment - it requires you not to make control inputs for many tens of seconds and the pitch, airspeed and altitude excursions that result are considerable. I don't know of any pilot or any airplane where this would happen without a deliberate effort to NOT fly the airplane - or if your elevator became disabled.

No one needs to think about controlling the phugoid - it is subordinated to simple pitch and airspeed control that happen on a far, far shorter timescale. The dominant dynamic mode there is short-period, but even that's not a big factor from a pilot control perspective.

9B